Supporting-frame for motors of electric carriages.



No. 659,080. Patented Oct. 2, I900.

c. A. LINDSTROM,

SUPPORTING FRAME FURMOTOBS OF ELECTRIC CARRIAGES.

(Application filed May 5, 1899.)

m lun llll n UNITED STATES V PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. LINDSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrcnoasv DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE HEWITT-LINDSTROM MOTOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SUPPORTING-FRAME FOR MOTORS F ELECTRIC-GARRIAGES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Patent No. 659,080, dated October 2 1900.

Application filed May 5, 1899. Serial No- 715 d92. (Ho moduli) 'To'all whom it may concern:

, -Be it known that I, CHARLES A. LINDSTROM, a citizen ofthe United States, and-a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting-Frames for'the Motors of Electric Carriages, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention isto provide a simple and economically-constructed frame which connects the forward and rear axles and-supports the motors of electric carriages in such manner as to minimize the movement imparted thereto by said frame. This Faccdmplish by the means hereinafter fully described, andas particularly pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the running-gear of an electric carriage having the nigh wheels thereof removed. Fig.

2 is'a plan view of the same with the body of the carriage removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the longitudinal side bars of said supporting-frame having a' portion of the forward branch thereof broken away and illustrating the manner of its connection with the conjunctive parts of my invention. .Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

B the revoluble rear axle of the same.

In the drawings, A represents the forward axle of an automobile or electric carriage, and Fast on'the ends'of the rear axle B are the drivewheels 0, and secured on said shaftadjacent to said wheels 0 are-the gears D. Each of these gears D is engaged by the pinions a on the adjacent ends'of the armature-shafts.

b of the motors, which are inclosed within the circular hoods c and are suitably jour- -and passes over and rests upon the axle B and, has plates f secured to the under sides thereof to complete clips that loosely surround said shaft B, so as to hingeonthe same, substantially as shown in the drawings? Surrounding the shaft B, between the clips of the arms e, is the knuckle g of the downwardly-bent rear end of a side bar or perch E, which extends horizontally forward and forward ends of'each of the two perches are independently pivotally connected by the knuckles F, the cylindrical shanks hot which latter extend through suitable hearings in said axle and are secured-by means of suitable nuts. As the pivotal connection of the perches E with the knuckles F permits of a vertical movement and the said kn uckles'ar-e secured in the axle so. as to permit of their turning in their bearings, a swivel-joint is formed for the forward ends of said. perches.

Projecting forward from the hoods c at points nearly diametrically opposite the arms eare lugsk, which have pivotally attached thereto the lower ends of the bolts G. These bolts extend vertically up through suitable openings in said perches E and have suitable retainingnuts k on their upper screw-threaded ends and have coil-springsKsurrounding the same on each side of said perch, as shown. This manner of sustaining the motor-oases gives them a limited resiliency that enables them to neutralize the jar of a vehicle with- ,out interfering with its engagement with the gear B and enables me throughthe medium of a cross-bar H to maintain the relative position of the. latter and at the same time permit of ailimited amount of flexibility of the entire supporting-frame to adapt the latter to accommodate itself to the mo'vement of the forward and rear wheels of the vehicle without imparting the entire movement of the same to the motors. The ends of the crossbar H are pivotally connected to the perches or side bars at points immediately in front of the plane of the motor-casings, and thus avoids that rigidity ,of connection and permotors are housed, which have theirrear ends independently supported on 'the'rearaxle and their forward ends supported by said side bars. I

2. The combination in an electric vehicle with the front axle, the rear axle, and as'up" portiugframe consisting of two corresponding longitudinal side bars or perches the forward ends of which converge toward each other and are independently swiveled to-the front axle and their r'earends loosely mounted on the rearlaxle, of the motors, means forimparting the motion-thereof to the real-axle and casings within which said motorsare housed which have their rear ends independ-- ently supported on the rear axle and their forward ends supported said sidebars or' perches; p y

3. The combination in an electric vehicle,

with the front axle, the rear axle -an da s porting-frame consisting of two correspond- 'ing longitudinal side bars or perchesthe'fon ward ends of which are independently swiveled to the frontaxle and thein rear ends loosely mounted on the rear axle, and a crossbar having its ends pivoted to and connecting:

said side bars of the motors, means for imparting the mot-ion thereof to'the rear axle.

and casings within which said motors are housed which have their rear endsimflep'en d- 10. In a motor-vehicle, the combination ently supported on the rear axle and their forward ends supported bysaid side barsorf perches;

4. The combination in an electricvehicle, with a front and rear axle longitudinalperches or side bars'having their ends pivotally connected to the front and rear axles, of

motors, casings therefor which have their rear ends independently and loosely mounted on the rear axle, and spring-controlled devices for suspending the forward ends of said casings to said perches or side bars.

5. The combination in an electric vehicle, with a front and rear axle, longitudinal perches or side bars having. their ends pivot:

a'lly connected to the front and rear axles, of.

motors circular'casin'gs therefor, arms con nected to said casings having their rear ends loosely clipped to, said rear-axle bolts having their lower ends pivotally connected'lto the forward side of said casings, extending up through. said perches and provided with nuts on their upper screwthreaded ends and springs-surrounding said bolts, as'and for-the purpose set forth.

nection with said perch.

6. In a vehicle, the combination with a non rotatable axle, of individual wheel-shafts mounted upon the ends thereof, two'perch members, each united with said stationary axle by universal joints; and an additional "axle, said 'perch members having-at their having'at their other ends a rotatable or swinging connectionwith the latter-axle.

8. The combination with a non-rotatable axle, of individual shafts for the steeringwheels supported npon said axle, a perch member having connection at one end with said axleby' means ofa'uni'versal joint and jo'urnaled to the driving-axle at the other end, and a motor having pivotal connect-ion with .said driving-shaft and having a yielding conj9.,'. Ina motor-vehicle, t-heeombination with 'a-inon rotatable axle, of individual shafts upon the endsof' thesaid axlefo'nguidjngthe 'wheels supported thereby, two perch members, each having a'flexibleoonnction at one endwith-the said axle, 'the points'o'feonnect-ion' of the axle-with the perch members being separated, a second ax e having-pivotal or swingi ng connect-ion .With'the other ends of said perch members, and two -lno'tors,; "each having 'a'pivotal "connection with the latter axle'yeajch motor also havingasprihgdike "connection with a-perch member, the spring con nec'tions' between-theimotors-and the porch meinbers"beingjndependentrof eachother.

with the twoltnembers-of a perch uniting the frontand rear axles, one "ofthe said axles having flexible connections with the contignous; ends of the'perch members, the said flexible connections being at separated points, the

,other ends of the said-perch membersbeing suitably connected with the remaining axle, of a cross-bar uniting the perch members.

- [11. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of the front and rear axles and the reach connecting said axles, of the motor hinged to the rear axle beneath thereach member so as to be capable of swinging vertically, and a suspension device conne'cted to the front part of the motorand suspending the same from the overlying reach, and cushions on said suspension deviceabove and below the reach, forthe purpose and substantially asdescribed.

-,12. The combinationlof the 't'rontandirear axles, the perch or. reach members .confl cting said axles, a motor haying a bifurcated, bracket by which .it is hung ontherear axle and capable of verticalswinging movement thereon, and a rodconnected tothe'front pa'rtdf the motorand suspendingthe saine too mate i i a from the reach, and cushions on said rod above and below the reach, for the purpose.

' and substantially as described.

13. "In a motor-vehicle, the combination of the axle, the wheels thereon, the independent motors beside each wheel and gearing between said motors and the wheeheach motor being suspended from theaxle by a. hinged joint so as to be capable of a swinging movement around the axle, with the reach members hinged, to the, rear axle, and a cushionsuspension device attached to the front side of each motor and suspending the same from the adjoining reach member for the purpose and substantially nsde'scribed.

' 14. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of the front and rear axles, the perch members connecting these axles having a hingesjoint to therear axle and a swivel connection to the front axle, and independent motors each suspended from the rearaxle by a hinged or rocking joint and capable of independent vertical movement thereon and a bar or rod at- .tached to the front of each motor-casing and suspended fromthe adjoining reach member, and cushioning devices on said i rod, for the 'purposeand substantially as described.

15. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of the front and rear axles, and two perch memhers each united with the flOHtflXlO by 'a' swivel or universal joint and with the rear axle by a connection which will permit ver tical swing of the perch on the rear-axle but prevent lateral movement thereof, substan tiallyas described;

'16. Ina motorvehicle, th'e combination ofthe frontand rear axles, a perch connecting the same and consisting of two independentlymovahle side members 'respectivelyloosely connected by aswivel-joint to the front axle and bya-hingedor rocking joint to the rear axle which will permit vertical swing of the perch on the rear axle but. prevent lateral movement thereof, and a connection between the side members of the perch-intermediate the axles, substantiall'yas descrihed.-

1'2.v In a motor-vehicle, the combination of the front and rearaxles, two perch members each unitedjwith the frontaxle'bya swivel or universal 'ointand'with the rear axle by a connection w ich will permit vertical swing of the perchon the rear axle but prevent lateral movement thereof, and atransverse bar.

, pivotally' connected to the said perch memhers at a point intermediate the axles, substantiallyas described.

18. In amotor-vehicle, the combination of the front and rear axles, a perch connecting the same andconsisting of two side members respectively loosely connected by a swiveljoint to the front axle .and by a hinged or rocking joint to the rear axle, and a crgniis-barv pivotally connecting the members, with the motors each having a rear hinge connection with the rear axle, and suspended by a front yielding connection tothe, adjacent perch member, substantially as described.

19. The combination in an automobile of the axle and a suitable motor-frame; with a bracket rigidly connected to said motor-frame and havinga bifurcated outer end pivotally connected or hinged to said axle, and areach pivotally connected at one end to said axle between the bifurcations of said bracket and to which reach the opposite side of said motorframe is secured.

20. The combination in anautoinobile of the axle and a suitable motor frame, with a bracket rigidly connected to said motor-frame and having a bifurcated end pivotally connected to said 'axle and a reach pivotally connected at one .end to said axle between the bifurcations of the, bracket and to which yieldingly secured.

'front and rear axles, the reach members hinged to the rear-axle and pivotally attached to the front axle, and a pair of motor-frames; with a bracket rigidly connected to each motor-frame and pivotally connected to the rear axle, and a yielding suspension device connecting the opposite side of said motor-frame tothe'adjoining reach member'which has its rear end pivotally secured to, said rear axle :ment of the bracket thereto.

22. 'The combination in an automobile of the axle, and a motor-frame; with a bracketrigidly connected at one end to said motor-frame and havingits opposite end bifurcated and pivotally connected to said axle, and a reach to which the opposite side of said motor-frame is suitably secured, and one end of which is pivotal'ly connected to said axle at a point between thebifurcations of sa d bracket.

23; The combination in an automobile of the idly connected at one end to said motor'frame and havingits opposite end bifurcated and having one end provided with a knuckle tween the bifurcations of said bracket andto whichreach the opposite side of said motorframe is yieldingly secured.

24. The combination in an automobile, of a j s'uitable rector-frame and'devices for yield- CHARLES A. LINDSTROM.

Witnesses: M. I. FRIEL,

FRANK D. THOMASON.

reach the opposite side of said motor-frame is at a point'coincidin g with the point of attach- 21.. The combination'i-n an automobile of the axle, and a motor-frame; 'with a bracket rig no pivotally connected to the axle, and a reach which is pivotally connected tosaid axle be- 

